2024 MLB playoff picture: Who has clinched, plus scenarios, schedule
The final weekend of the 2024 MLB regular season is over -- but wins for the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Mets paired with an Atlanta Braves loss on Sunday means we get a bonus Monday of playoff-impacting baseball.
While those three teams battle for the final two wild-card sports, the remainder of the playoff field is set. The Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies have the top seeds in the National League and the Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres have the next two seeds. In the American League, the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians have the top seeds, with the Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals joining them.
Where do the current playoff matchups stand? What does the playoff schedule look like? We have everything you need to know as the regular season comes to a finish.
Watch: Mets-Braves doubleheader, starting Monday at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN2
Key links: Full MLB standings| Wild-card standings| Passan's World Series prediction
Who will secure the final two playoff spots?
There were several potential outcomes depending on the results of Sunday's games, but with the Braves falling to the Royals and the Mets and Diamondbacks notching wins over their respective opponents, both games of Monday's doubleheader between Atlanta and New York will take place. The winner of the first game of the doubleheader is automatically in. If the loser of the first game wins the second, that team is in as well and the D-backs would be eliminated. However, if either the Mets or Braves are swept in the doubleheader, that team would be out and the Diamondbacks would be in.
Who is in?
Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers clinched the season's first playoff spot, when theysecured the NL Central crownfor the third time in four seasons.
New York Yankees
The Yankees clinched a playoff spot on with a win against the Seattle Marinersand followed by clinching the AL East title.
Cleveland Guardians
The Guardians clinched a playoff spot with a win over the Minnesota Twinsand followed by clinching the AL Central crown.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers clinched a playoff spot with their 20-4 blowout win over the Marlins and have won the NL West title for the 11th time in 12 years.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies clinched their third straight playoff spot with a win over the Mets on Friday night. With a win over the Cubs on Monday, they clinched their first NL East title since 2011.
Houston Astros
The Astros beat the Mariners on Tuesday to clinch their fourth consecutive AL West division title.
Baltimore Orioles
With a win over the Yankees and the Twins' loss to the Marlins, the Orioles clinched a playoff spot.
San Diego Padres
With a game-ending triple play to seal their win against the Dodgers, the Padres clinched their spot in the postseason.
Detroit Tigers
By handing the White Sox a record 121st loss, the Tigers ended their 10-year postseason drought.
Kansas City Royals
The Twins' loss on Friday clinched the final AL playoff spot for the Royals, their first since 2015.
What are this October's MLB playoff matchups as it stands now?
American League
Wild-card round: (6) Tigers* at (3) Astros*, (5) Royals* at (4) Orioles*
ALDS: Tigers/Astros vs. (2) Guardians*, Royals/Orioles vs. (1) Yankees*
National League
Wild-card round: (6) Mets at (3) Brewers*, (5) Braves at (4) Padres*
NLDS: Mets/Brewers vs. (2) Phillies*, Braves/Padres vs. (1) Dodgers*
* -- Clinched playoff spot
Tiebreakers
If Atlanta and New York tie, the Braves currently hold the tiebreaker by virtue of a 6-5 edge in the head-to-head season series (with two games remaining).
In the event of a two-team tie involving the D-backs for the NL's final playoff spot, the Mets and Braves both hold the tiebreaker because they won the season series.
Breaking down the AL race
The Yankees fended off the Orioles in a battle for the AL East crown -- though, Baltimore also clinched a playoff berth -- while the Guardians and Astros both also clinched division titles. Two more AL Central teams -- the Tigers and Royals -- round out the field.Here are the odds for the AL playoff squads for every round:
Breaking down the NL race
While theAtlanta Braves,New York Metsand Arizona Diamondbacksbattle for the final playoff spots, the Dodgers, Phillies, Brewers and Padres prepare for October. Milwaukee clinched the NL Central crown and Philadelphia cruised to a division title in the NL East. Los Angeles beat San Diego in the final matchup of the (regular) season to clinch its 11th NL West title in the past 12 seasons, with the Padres going on to secure the 4-seed.Here are the odds for the NL playoff squads -- as the playoff picture currently stands -- for every round:
Playoff schedule
Wild-card series
Best of three, all games at better seed's stadium
Game 1: Tuesday, Oct. 1
Game 2: Wednesday, Oct. 2
Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 3*
Division series
Best of five
ALDS
Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 5
Game 2: Monday, Oct. 7
Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 9
Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 10*
Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 12*
NLDS
Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 5
Game 2: Sunday, Oct. 6
Game 3: Tuesday, Oct. 8
Game 4: Wednesday, Oct. 9*
Game 5: Friday, Oct. 11*
League championship series
Best of seven
ALCS
Game 1: Monday, Oct. 14
Game 2: Tuesday, Oct. 15
Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 17
Game 4: Friday, Oct. 18
Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 19*
Game 6: Monday, Oct. 21*
Game 7: Tuesday, Oct. 22*
NLCS
Game 1: Sunday, Oct. 13
Game 2: Monday, Oct. 14
Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 16
Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 17
Game 5: Friday, Oct. 18*
Game 6: Sunday, Oct. 20*
Game 7: Monday, Oct. 21*
World Series
Best of seven
Game 1: Friday, Oct. 25
Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 26
Game 3: Monday, Oct. 28
Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 29
Game 5: Wednesday, Oct. 30*
Game 6: Friday, Nov. 1*
Game 7: Saturday, Nov. 2*
Note: If both LCS end by Oct. 19 -- meaning neither series lasts longer than five games -- the World Series will begin on Tuesday, Oct. 22
* If necessary
